Topic: Suggestion on contribs.org

[Drifting]

Having played around with SME for about the last 18 Months, I have to say I have not had some much fun since the early days of DOS.
As a Linux newbie, I really appreciate the the forums, and the very kind and helpful people who frequent it.

Now to the suggestion! Would it be possible to have sort the contribs so that we have "Will work with all versions" or "5.6" only" and perhaps a "6.* only".

Perhaps it's me, but I find trying to locate a contrib a bit of a nightmare, never being too sure if it works with 6.0? The constant dashing back and forth between website trying to locate information.

Another point, Why does the front page not even promote what SME can do to Joe Public? Are are we trying to keep this bit secret?

Regards Paul.

[matsk]

I second your proposal for an contribution compability matrix.

And I has just wrote an proposal for "SME Sales pitch" in the "discussion mailing list" and is for the moment writing down an alpha text for this, see http://lists.contribs.org/mailman/public/discussion/msg00029.html for more info. If you wan't to help, please give me a hint  



I agree SME rocks

[wyron]

I second the motion !
And Mats, your proposed text is precisely to the point.
I don't remember how I first came to hear about e-smith, but since then I have been taking things for granted, obviously, ie. not seeing things through the eyes of a firsttime visitor any longer.
In order to compare with your text-proposal, I have been looking again at the original e-smith.org homepage, and to be true it does seem a little more informative, at least in the 'upper-left' links.
But your proposal is way beyond that.
To be honest, I don't think I would have spent much time at contribs.org without prior knowledge of the project, and I'm bound to admit that the recommendation I received originally must have been rather convincing, or I wouldn't have spent much time at e-smith.org either.
As it is, I've had a three and a half year hot love affair with this distribution, and I really admire the contribs community for lifting the huge task of continuing the work. We must admire them for concentrating on the important parts, and perhaps forgive them for not working on minor things like marketing.
Your point is valid, though, and I'm sure it has been taken !
Attaboy, buddy!

[Drifting]

Well as the saying goes, great minds think alike. Unfortuately I thought of it after you!  

I think it will be on my coffin "Always late"

Seriously I think it's a brilliant idea, the product is pitched right at the SME, so tell them what it can do, forget about the contribs for the moment. The basic functions cover most things an SME need.

So far the few servers that I have out there, have been supplied to very small business or charitys who cannot justify the cost of Microsoft Small Business Server, and considering that the cheaper version of that does not come with a firewall! Here in the UK ADSL has taken off beyond belief, I have seen so many companies with ADSL modems and zero firewalls it fairly makes your skin creep.

How about having a list of people who can install and configure it for you in your location around the world?  You could make a small charge for listing their names (Or Company names), this could bring income into Contribs.org ? The other upshot, could be that some of the contribs (Commercial) would generate more cash for them, and encourage more development? And the local installers would build relationships with the contrib writers? Of course this would in turn develope SME.

Just thinking out aloud.

Paul.